North Korea Missile Launch... New Nominee for US Ambassador to Korea Responds in Kind?

Goldberg's US Ambassador Nomination Sparks Provocation
Sixth Military Demonstration This Year

North Korea's Korean Central TV on the 11th released photos of two short-range projectile launches conducted the previous day in the Hamhung area of South Hamgyong Province. The military initially estimated these projectiles to be of a type similar to the Iskander-class KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, but the photos released by North Korea suggest they are a new type of ballistic missile different from the KN-23. The photos show the launch scenes released by Central TV that afternoon. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu, Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the 27th. This is evaluated as a counter-response message to the appointment of Philip Goldberg, known as a 'hardliner on North Korea,' as the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, who was previously the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia.

On the same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced via a text message to the press corps, "North Korea launched two projectiles presumed to be ballistic missiles into the East Sea around 8 a.m.," adding, "The flight distance of the projectiles launched this time was about 190 km, and the altitude was about 20 km as detected." They further stated, "Detailed specifications are being analyzed precisely by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities."

North Korea's ballistic missiles on this day were launched from the Hamhung area in South Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea and are known to have landed on Al Island, located off the coast of Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province. Al Island is a frequent target island reportedly equipped with models of the Blue House or the Ministry of National Defense.

This missile launch marks the sixth military provocation since the beginning of the new year, and it occurred two days after North Korea launched two projectiles presumed to be cruise missiles on the 25th. Starting with the launch of a ballistic missile claimed to be a hypersonic missile on the 5th of this month, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles four times in the new year up to the 17th.

Some view this as a backlash against the appointment of Philip Goldberg, who was deeply involved in enforcing North Korea sanctions during the Barack Obama administration, as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.

It is also noteworthy that North Korea launched missiles immediately after it became known that the Biden administration had appointed Philip Goldberg, known as a 'hardliner on North Korea,' as the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.

A senior Blue House official stated on the day, "The nominee has currently been notified to our government." Ambassador Goldberg will be officially announced after receiving agrement (host country approval) from South Korea and will be finally appointed after National Assembly confirmation. He holds the highest rank given to diplomats by the State Department, Career Ambassador, and during the Obama administration from 2009 to 2010, he coordinated international cooperation related to UN sanctions on North Korea as the State Department's UN sanctions enforcement coordinator. His appointment suggests that future U.S. policy toward North Korea may focus on 'sanctions.'

North Korea is responding to the U.S. with the principle of 'stronger for stronger, preemptive for preemptive,' and this clearly 'stronger for stronger' response from the U.S. may have influenced North Korea's sixth military provocation of the new year.

Professor Kim Yong-hyun of Dongguk University's Department of North Korean Studies said, "This projectile launch expresses North Korea's will to lead the process rather than being led by the U.S. in denuclearization," adding, "Although the response was not specifically targeted at the ambassadorial appointment, the appointment may have been partially included as a reason."

On the other hand, Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "Since Ambassador Goldberg's official appointment has not yet been confirmed, it probably did not have a significant impact on the launch," and added, "It is highly likely that North Korea will continue to launch projectiles through January."

Meanwhile, the Blue House convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee regarding the projectile launch on the same day.